and in alexandria, egypt, kind of the same thing because there was a british port with british forts and big guns and british fleet around. in algeria it was a different thing entirely because it was a french naval base, and the admiralcy, which is the british naval command, radioed, of course in code, to their fleet in gibraltar, and they said this is what you have to do. you have to sail through the night of july 2nd and 3rd and show up at dawn. and give our terms to the french fleet. and the terms were or were going to be, um, you were our loyal ally in the fight against the germans up until just days ago. sail out of your port and join us in the fight against the germans. if you can't do that, give us your ships. we'll sail them with british sailors and give them back to you when the war is over. if you can't do that, sail the french ships that you have here to the caribbean, to martinique, and the americans will assure their neutrality during the war. if you can't do that, we regret to have to ask you to scuttle your ships within six hours. and if you can't do that, we'll take w